Malvern Prep junior Kevin Bogan has been selected to the prestigious Pennsylvania Governor’s School of Excellence for the Arts at Mercyhurst College in Erie.

Bogan, the second Malvern student ever selected to the Arts School, was one of only 60 art students chosen from more than 800 applicants. More than 3,700 students from across the state took part in the rigorous application process for the eight Governor’s Schools, with 788 students selected overall.

“Kevin is a natural-born artist,” said Malvern Director of the Arts Jackie White. “His talent was evident the first time I showed him something on the pottery wheel. He immediately grasped both the technical and the aesthetic aspects.”

Bogan will be working in the visual arts at the School and will focus on ceramics during the intense five-week program June 29 to August 2. Bogan is one of 10 students who will be working in ceramics and will have the opportunity to work in the studio uninterrupted, in an atmosphere similar to what he would do in the college art setting. Bogan will spend seven to eight hours in the studio each day, and will be treated to a performance from one of the Arts School disciplines (visual arts, photography, creative writing, dance, music, acting and theater design) each night.

Said Malvern ceramics teacher Kate Plows, who worked at the Governor’s School for the Arts for several years, “Kevin has a great opportunity to focus on his work and improve his technical skill. By time he is finished with the program, he will know if he would enjoy continuing his study of ceramics in college.”

“Kevin has impressed all of us,” continued White. “I have never seen anyone so talented at Malvern, and most importantly, his growth as a person has allowed him to focus and put forth the tremendous effort necessary to be accepted to the School.”